TUTU MUCH

Five Oakland A’s baseball players will step out of their accustomed roles--and uniforms--to join with Oakland Ballet in a performance of Ronn Guidi’s “Nutcracker” Dec. 19 in the Bay Area. And just what will Mike Davis, Dave Stewart, Bill Krueger, Carney Lansford and Dwayne Murphy be doing in this holiday classic?

Ballet spokeswoman Millie Mitchell’s lips are sealed: “We don’t want to spoil the surprise,” she teased. Under intensive questioning, she did allow that the five will appear in the first act, they will be in costume (but not in tutus, we’re relieved to report), they will shortly begin “intense” rehearsals and that “they will be noticeable.” Undoubtedly.

“This is not just a gimmick,” Mitchell emphasized. “The performance is part of the community outreach program that the team has been involved in. The A’s bought a block of tickets for the performance and are distributing them to disadvantaged kids.”

She added that, unfortunately, Rookie of the Year slugging sensation Jose Canseco would be unable to perform. He probably got a better offer from the NYC Ballet.